We had some blustery afternoons last week, but thankfully the swell stayed down. Most mornings were very pleasant, affording local anglers the chance to get out for some fishing. Those who did make it out enjoyed one of the best weeks of fishing so far this season.

Most impressive is the continuing, and (dare I say it) even improving king salmon bite. More fish are being caught on the Monterey side of the Bay, though a few die-hards continue to pull up kings from the Soquel Hole area. Captain Mike Baxter worked the area south of Moss Landing on Monday aboard a private boat, and found his salmon in the six to 15-pound range near Mulligan's Hill and the Soldier's Club.

Kayak fisherman D.P. Shim launched from Lover's Point to fish the waters near the Monterey Bell Buoy. "I heard whispers of ghosts in the area," Shim confided. He did not find any white sea bass, but was well rewarded in the king salmon category. Shim used a deep-six diver and an ultraviolet purple dodger trailed by a "stinky pinky" hoochie/anchovy combo for some impressive results. He kept one king, released a second keeper and two undersized fish, plus had two keeper-sized salmon effect a "LRSR" (long-range self-release).

Six-pack skipper Gerry Brookes also had big numbers to share this week as well. On Wednesday, fishing 200 feet of water near Mulligan's, Brookes boxed full limits of salmon for his clients and released 14 undersized fish. "Kept us busy," Brookes quipped. He found his success while trolling "some bait," but most of the fish were caught on small hoochies or spoon lures.

Inshore anglers also had reason to celebrate this week. Captain Jimmy Charters concentrated on local rockfishing. Working the local reefs from Pleasure Point to Wilder Ranch, Jim Rubin bagged early limits of quality blues, blacks and vermillion rockfish, plus one 25-pound thresher shark for his clients.

Ed Burrell at Capitola Boat and Bait had glowing reports for the week. Private boaters and rental skiff anglers are doing very well on rockfish and especially halibut this week. "Every other boat came in with halibut this week!" Burrell said. Working the nearby reefs, anglers are returning with limits of brown and black rockfish as well as a few lingcod. Most of the halibut are coming from 45-50 feet of water, with the sandy areas surrounding the Mile Reef and outside the kelp line of Pleasure Point being most productive. Live sardines remain the preferred bait, though kingfish, smelt, mackerel and dead squid all took their share of halibut in the Capitola area last week.